Wayne Weatherford is returning as softball coach for the 2013 Chiefland High School girls softball team and he will start having tryouts on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 3:30 p.m. Joining Weatherford on the coaching staff are Whitney Mills and Brian Gore. Gina Mills will also return as the team's records keeper.

Lou Elliott Jones

From left, Ashton Weatherford, Lena Weatherford and Robert Baylor smooth the cement pads for the batting practice area.

Tryouts will continue at the same time on Wednesday, Jan. 9, and Thursday, Jan. 10. Weatherford said he expects to have a team roster ready by Friday.

"This is definitely a rebuilding year," Weatherford said. He said last year's team had its only catcher, Taylore Fuller graduate in June, so there will be a new player at that position. "The girls have been calling. They started calling last week," he said.

On Friday, Weatherford, his wife Lena, son Ashton and father-in-law Robert Baylor were smoothing cement before it dried in four batting boxes. Three cubic yards of cement were donated by Anderson Columbia of Chiefland. Weatherford said, "We're putting in concerete because when they do a lot of practice in here it wears it down. This will keep it level."

Mats that were in the clubhouse have been hung to serve in place of a net to keep balls in the batting practice area.

Earlier in the week baseball coach Kyle Parnell had helped with mowing the outfield and cultivating the infield on the softball field.

The team's clubhouse has been straightened up and Weatherford says the team will need more playing equipment and uniforms. He found only three bats, a few balls, two pitching machines and three team uniforms in the facility.